The article discusses Switzerland’s historical influence in international trade matters, including at the WTO’s predecessor, the GATT, which was also Geneva-based. It notes, however, that, among other developments, ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and the EU on a bilateral trade accord—the TTIP, or Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership—threaten to marginalize the WTO and, by extension, the Swiss.

Yanovich noted, “Switzerland is still relatively influential in the WTO, likely more than one might expect from a small country. The WTO needs countries like Switzerland to further its agenda.”